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Every Statue in Kingdom Two Crowns: What They Do and Where to Find Them Kingdom Two Crowns is one of the many games in Raw Fury’s Kingdom series of video games and is a delightful pixel art adventure. Much of the game has the player exploring areas to uncover new secrets, many of which include the Statues. Statues are always found within forests and are almost always covered in moss, […] This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire

Jun 25

Katy Perry vs Orlando Bloom Net Worth Comparison: Who Is Richer After Their Alleged Breakup? Sometimes, love stories don’t just unravel; they unravel with the subtle grace of a wildfire in a dry forest. As the saying goes, even the brightest stars can flicker under pressure, and Katy Perry’s 2024 has been a constellation of misfires. From her single, Woman’s World, turning into an unexpected joke, to the 143 album […] This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire

Jun 25

Epic NPC Man: Nice Day For Fishing – ReviewComedy troupe Viva La Dirt League’s Epic NPC Man series has come full circle with the release of Nice Day For Fishing. Originally making its debut in 2016, Epic NPC Man started as a series of sketches that lampooned video game tropes. It was successful enough to spawn a crowdfunded film, a comic book, and now… a video game. But can Nice Day For Fishing stand on its own, or is it overly reliant on inside jokes, obscure references, and fan service? Story Central to Nice Day For Fishing is local fisherman Baelin, the lead character from the film Baelin’s Route: An Epic NPC Man Adventure. Like his fellow townsfolk, Baelin is an NPC from the fictional MMORPG Skycraft. Things go awry when a magical item causes all the player characters to disappear from the game. And no, this isn’t the fault of wizard Baradun, stop asking. As it turns out, Baelin is suddenly able to take on quests, so now it’s up to him to keep the village of Honeywood safe. In a world where monsters wreak havoc on a regular basis, that’s a big task for a laid-back character like Baelin, so our unlikely hero sets out on an epic quest to return things to normal. Fortunately for Baelin, many familiar faces from Epic NPC Man are ready and willing to help him in their own ways. Most of Nice Day for Fishing’s humor derives from callbacks and references to the sketch series. However, even with only our cursory knowledge of the series, we couldn’t help but chuckle at some of the jokes. Graphics A surprising amount of detail was crammed into Nice Day For Fishing’s pixel art. The environments are varied, and there are plenty of small sight gags to discover. The fish designs are varied and easily recognizable, despite their simplicity. The retro visuals make for a game that runs as smooth as you’d expect, with a steady frame rate. Sound Given how close the people from Viva La Dirt League were involved with the development of Nice Day For Fishing, we feel like a huge opportunity was missed by not having the game fully voiced. The characters do all get short voice blurbs, but unless you can actively hear the line deliveries in your head from having watched the sketches, a lot of the humor falls flat. Line delivery is important! The soundtrack comprises the kind of cliché medieval tunes you’d expect from a low-budget YouTube sketch comedy series, which is unsurprisingly very fitting. That said, the transition from combat music to overworld music is abrupt and jarring. Gameplay Fishing mechanics are a common sight in RPGs, but typically in the form of a minigame instead of a fully fleshed-out gameplay element. That’s not the case here, but with a title like Nice Day For Fishing, it’s not exactly surprising that fishing is the central mechanic. The game is still unmistakably an RPG, albeit one where familiar elements like combat and treasure collecting are tied to Baelin’s skills as a fisherman. The core gameplay loop is simple but efficient. You set out to fish and use your haul in order to restore and improve the village of Honeywood, which was destroyed in the game’s opening. Gradually restoring Honeywood gives you access to better equipment, like a treasure magnet and new kinds of bait, which in turn means you can fish more efficiently, rinse and repeat. New and more fleshed-out mechanics, like combat, spells, and traveling using water currents, are introduced gradually, making for a game that has a bit more depth than you’d initially expect. Catching fish takes more than just choosing the right type of bait and mashing a button to reel it in. Each fish has its own attack pattern, with later-game fish being a lot trickier to take down. Attacks from fish can be blocked and parried, and Baelin can rely on magic attacks and potions to take down trickier sealife. As you’d expect, rare and powerful fish are worth more and will net you bigger and better rewards. Apart from dealing with aquatic opponents, Baelin can also gather treasure by sticking a magnet at the end of his fishing rod and aiming for sunken treasure, although this is a fairly fiddly mechanic that often sees you miss your mark by the slightest margin. Things never get ridiculously difficult or complicated, but that makes sense here, as Nice Day For Fishing’s main reason for existing is to be a tie-in game. The game sticks to a handful of core features, and does flesh these out well enough. That said, there are a couple of features we’d have wanted included here, first and foremost being fast travel. The map isn’t enormous, but we still had to do more backtracking than we liked. It’s probably also worth mentioning here that there are some simple platforming sections when navigating the forests and caves that are found in the overworld. The tediousness of having to revisit the same areas over and over is likely intended as a jokey reference to the sketch series, but in practice, it wasn’t very fun. Despite all the backtracking, Nice Day For Fishing isn’t a very long game, and can be completed in a handful of hours. If your aim is to complete the fishing dex, then you can probably squeeze some more time out of it. Even then, the €19.99 price tag is hard to justify unless you’re deriving enjoyment from the humor and the references. Fortunately, there’s nothing stopping you from checking out the sketch series on YouTube before you decide to take the plunge with Nice Day For Fishing. Conclusion For what it wants to be, Nice Day For Fishing is a neat little game. However, if you’re unfamiliar with the Epic NPC Man series, or if Viva La Dirt League’s humor isn’t your cup of tea, then the game isn’t going to stick its landing with you. Like so many other tie-in games, you’re expected to be familiar with the source material in order to fully appreciate what’s on offer here. The core fishing-meets-RPG gameplay loop is enjoyable, but there isn’t enough here to make picking up Nice Day For Fishing worth it based on just that.

Jun 25

Chronicles of the Wolf launches today!Published by PQube and PixelHeart, and developed by Migami Games, Chronicles of the Wolf is a new metroidvania action-platformer that brings the legend of the Beast of Gévaudan back to life. You’ll play as Mateo Lombardo, the past apprentice of the ancient Rose Cross Order, who awakens in the forest of Gévaudan after his comrades have been massacred. Track down the Beast of Gévaudan, a monster drawn from real historical accounts that terrorised 18th-century France, to defeat it. On his journey, Mateo must travel through various places, solving cryptic puzzles to unlock new paths. Mateo will face powerful enemies along the way. Gain upgrades and power-ups to defeat them. You’ll have to explore, backtrack, and collect various items, armor, and weapons to unlock new abilities to progress. Additionally, a dynamic day-night cycle adds to the challenge. Chronicles of the Wolf offers 10-12 hours of gameplay, more than 150 enemies to fight, and a narration brought to life by Robert Belgrade, known for his work in the Tekken series and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Additionally, the game features stunning cutscenes and a haunting soundtrack composed by Jeffrey Montoya. On top of that, Bloodless from the action series Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night makes a special entrance. Dive into this haunting tale and reveal the truth behind the Beast of Gévaudan. Chronicles of the Wolf is digitally available for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox, and PC. Physical editions are available for Nintendo Switch and PS4 and 5. A free demo is now available on Steam.

Jun 24

New Shonen Jump Manga Kaedegami Starts Shuiesha started a new Shonen Jump manga series run, and Kaedegami chapter one is available worldwide. Both MangaPlus and Viz Media offer it in English. It’s a simulpub series from Jun Harukawa. , We will see new chapters appear every Sunday from here on out. Kou is a young man living in the woods near Shuraku Village when Kaedegami begins. However, his home life is interesting. After being abandoned as a child by his father in that forest, a masked Shenguai Chiyou named found him. Since she felt lonely, she started caring for him and helping him survive. Rumors in town are spreading about a malevolent Shenguai attacking people. When it comes to town and targets Chiyou, Kou learns some truth about the one person he considers family and makes a decision to help her even if it puts himself at risk. So the two set off on a journey to reclaim what Chiyou lost. This isn’t the only new Shonen Jump manga to start in June 2025. Harukaze Mound debuted on June 15, 2025. That’s a new series about baseball. Before that, we saw ones like Magical Girl and Narco Wars . Kaedegami chapter one is available now, and the next chapter of the new Shonen Jump manga will appear on June 29, 2025. The post New Shonen Jump Manga Kaedegami Starts appeared first on Siliconera .

Jun 23

Slavic Folklore Comes Alive In Chains Of Lukomorye, A Shooter Set In An Alternate Post-WWI Timeline<img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/18/33f7bc58/chains_header.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="Chains of Lukomorye Forge Ahead Games Cinematic Reveal Announcement Trailer" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> Game Informer can exclusively reveal the first-ever trailer for Chains of Lukomorye, an action-adventure game set in an alternative post-World War I world intertwined with Slavic folklore. This trailer highlights the characters of Slavic mythology, like the massive black cat Bayun, the forest guardian Leshy, and other "names not spoken in years." There's no release date for the game yet, but you can <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/3746310/Chains_of_Lukomorye/">wishlist it on Steam</a> starting today. Chains of Lukomorye comes from Forge Ahead Games, a small European indie studio. This is the game's cinematic announcement trailer, though it does feature snippets of gameplay that look promising. Forge Ahead Games describes the game as a haunting third-person shooter that explores love, grief, and the thin line between fate and free will. It also says the game will be playable solo or in online co-op, "as you descend into an alternate post-WWI world where Allied experiments shattered reality itself." Check out the Chains of Lukomorye reveal trailer for yourself below: <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TSwdVStJyf8" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="true"> </iframe>"The ritual ended the war but cracked the world," a description of the game reads. "Myths seep into broken trenches and forgotten villages, and something ancient stirs in the dark. Journey through deserted trenches and enchanted ruins to rescue a lost love from the Slavic Underworld." Game Informer can also exclusively showcase the first-ever Chains of Lukomorye gameplay trailer: <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tOb04lqqnLY" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="true"> </iframe>Check out the screenshots below for another look at Chains of Lukomorye:  What do you think of Chains of Lukomorye's reveal trailer? Let us know in the comments below! <section class='type:slideshow'><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/18/122fb866/chain_forest.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/18/ba1ff221/head_vetryan.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/18/f54ba383/fantasyscreen03_fov90.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/18/5c399ce6/monsters02non_gameplay_1920.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/18/fff4c592/ww1_location_03_ui.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/18/a45fac82/wolf.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/18/5420917f/ww1_location_04a_ui.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/18/7593f2fd/runicstone.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/18/5d2b9dc3/fantasyscreen01_ui.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/18/db46a246/highresscreenshot00038.jpg'></figure></section>

Jun 20

99 Nights in the Forest True Story ExplainedLet's unravel the mystery...

Jun 19

The Forest Keeper Free Download (Build 17652597)The Forest Keeper Direct Download: Before you is a boundless scorched wasteland littered with the rusty wreckage of a past world. The ruins of cities buried beneath the sands hold dangerous secrets, and the roads are teeming with monsters. In this world there are no laws, only brute force and iron will. Take your weapons […] The post The Forest Keeper Free Download (Build 17652597) first appeared on WorldofPCGames .

Jun 17

Lumberjacked Free Download (Build 18342017)Lumberjacked Direct Download: Welcome to LumberJacked, a 3D incremental clicker game that takes place deep in a mysterious forest. Chop trees, collect the logs, and toss them into the chipper to earn cash. Use your earnings to upgrade your strength and efficiency, or sharpen your axe allowing you to cut down increasingly tougher and more […] The post Lumberjacked Free Download (Build 18342017) first appeared on WorldofPCGames .

Jun 13

Stardew Valley Creator ConcernedApe Gives Short And Sweet But Promising Update On Haunted Chocolatier<img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2021/10/21/ceed320b/haunted_chocolatier_bakery.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="Haunted Chocolatier Screenshot Stardew Valley update concerned ape" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> <a href="https://gameinformer.com/2024/03/19/stardew-valley-16-patch-drops-today-heres-what-to-expect">Stardew Valley is still receiving updates</a> while developer ConcernedApe chips away at developing his next game, <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/product/haunted-chocolatier">Haunted Chocolatier</a>. Still, he's full speed ahead on the latter, and early this morning, ConcernedApe dropped a short and sweet but promising update about Haunted Chocolatier. "The world of Haunted Chocolaiter is larger than Stardew Valley," ConcernedApe writes on <a href="https://x.com/ConcernedApe/status/1932705089283895458">X</a>. Okay, we told you it was short... but it is also promising because Stardew Valley is a massive game. It's one people are still sinking hundreds of hours into each year. That Haunted Chocolatier's world is bigger than Stardew Valley is both concerning (for our time) and exciting (for our time).  While waiting to learn more about the game, read <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/07/05/haunted-chocolatier-feed-that-eerie-craving-with-what-we-know-so-far">Game Informer's exclusive interview feature with ConcernedApe about Haunted Chocolatier</a>, and then read about how he said <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2025/05/08/i-might-eventually-make-a-stardew-valley-2-says-stardew-valleys-creator">he might eventually make Stardew Valley 2</a>. After that, read <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/games/stardew_valley/b/pc/archive/2016/03/24/stardew-valley-review.aspx">Game Informer's Stardew Valley review</a>. What do you hope to see in Haunted Chocolatier? Let us know in the comments below! <section class='type:slideshow'><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2021/10/21/98fb1067/haunted_chocolatier_hunted_house.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2021/10/21/a54a20ee/haunted_chocolatier_fire_watch.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2021/10/21/1923e517/haunted_chocolatier_ingredients.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2021/10/21/ceed320b/haunted_chocolatier_bakery.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2021/10/21/fbca1c54/haunted_chocolatier_interior.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2021/10/21/e9cc663d/haunted_chocolatier_adventure_forest.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2021/10/21/ceadfd33/haunted_chocolatier_ghosts.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2021/10/21/c9ed0a98/haunted_chocolatier_snowy_woods.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2021/10/21/91e4f99a/haunted_chocolatier_bakery_interior.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2021/10/21/b769075a/haunted_chocolatier_stick_combat.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2021/10/21/50378116/haunted_chocolatier_burk_character.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2021/10/21/23807f80/haunted_chocolatier_screen_2.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2021/10/21/aa83c901/haunted_chocolatier_trailer_screen_1.jpg'></figure></section>

Jun 11

Review: Kabuto Park Can Be a Simple Bug-Catching Sim Kabuto Park attempts to capture a moment. It’s summer. You’re a kid. You have no responsibilities and very little supervision. There are bugs everywhere, but they’re friends and not fearsome. All of this makes for a perfect opportunity to obsess over the little critters and share them with your friends. While the result is a game that’s a bit short and is best played in small doses due to a simple gameplay loop, finding these little guys is still quite pleasant. You’re a young child who is about to enjoy 30 days of summer vacation. How? By catching bugs. Your new friend Midori kicks off August by introducing you to the joys of exploring places like a farm, a lake, a forest, and a swamp to find unusual critters. Once you do, you can level them up and battle them in a big tournament for cash and candy. Why? Well, it’s a way to spend some time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORNPGBfcHXQ&ab_channel=WholesomeGames Kabuto Park is an incredibly simple bug-catching sim. You start out with access to one area, then need to participate in battles in the tournament to earn enough money to upgrade the boots and reach new spaces. Catching involves a timing-based system, during which pressing the confirm button on a blue patch lets you move closer for increased green area catching opportunities. You start out being able to catch two bugs per area, with a tool upgrade increasing that, but since time doesn’t pass until you compete in that day’s tournament battle and there are only a handful of spots to search in each location, it’s not really worth investing in anything beyond a boots to reach new spots and guide to increase odds of encountering uncommon and rare bugs. Catching and battling are also rather breezy affairs. So while you can pay in-game coins for Honey to increase the green patches during a moment when you find a bug, I didn’t really find that necessary. As for battling, you basically watch as your team of three bugs pushes up against an opponent’s trio. The goal is for one side to push the other out of the “ring,” with the cards in the deck adding skills that can be supportive, defensive, or offensive. However, since you can see the opponent’s stats right away, it is easy to just… overpower them and win. Especially since there are certain bugs that are extremely OP, catching repeats of bugs means you can “sell” them for candy used to level ones you own up, and the early game bugs can be as good as endgame ones depending on your cards and moveset. For example, a Goliath Beetle is ridiculously strong, has a temporary buff card that keeps the team from being pushed back, and owns an incredible Overcharged Kick attack card. But then, all the rare bugs I found seemed to possess the best sorts of movesets and stats. Even if I tried to experiment with a Wind-based card deck, it just wasn’t worth it to deviate from my other lineup. Screenshots by Siliconera Easiness aside, I will note that another issue is that Kabuto Park doesn’t feel exactly perfect on a handheld gaming PC like a Steam Deck or Lenovo Legion Go. It isn’t optimized for a control scheme that only uses a controller. The mouse sensitivity and speed is too high, so it’s incredibly easy to overshoot with the cursor when browsing menus or making selections. Using the touchscreen is an option, but then there are some inputs where just tapping isn’t enough and you then need to press the A button to confirm the actions. I will say the fact that it is short, affordable, and easy meant I found it easy to appreciate other elements. The bug designs are quite cute. They’re stylized, but still recognizable. Especially with certain ones like an Orchid Mantis. I could use bugs I really liked or found strong, since they do remain viable for a long time. There are shiny bugs, just like there are shiny Pokemon, which incentivized the whole catching process and made me want to return to areas where I’d already found every critter. Also, while it can get a little repetitive, the fact that it is brief helps keep it from getting tedious. Kabuto Park feels like the type of game you play for about 15-20 minutes every day for a week when you need to take a minute to relax. It’s never taxing. The challenge is minimal. The bugs are cute. I doubt anyone will spend longer than a few hours 100%-ing it, but it’s enjoyable in moderation. Kabuto Park is available for PCs. The post Review: Kabuto Park Can Be a Simple Bug-Catching Sim appeared first on Siliconera .

Jun 8

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Preview - Slicing And Dicing<img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/07/16afc712/lantern_festival_4.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="Shinobi: Art of Vengeance" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC Publisher: Sega Developer: Lizardcube, Sega Release: <time datetime="2025-08-29T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">August 29, 2025</time> Rating: Teen Since its first reveal, I've eagerly anticipated Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. The combination of handing the <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/preview/2025/05/23/how-sega-and-lizardcube-pulled-shinobi-out-of-the-shadows" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="50058802-9567-4c97-8a9a-60931acd3b1c" data-entity-substitution="canonical">keys to a classic franchise to a proven indie studio like Lizardcube</a> (Streets of Rage 4, Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap) and the utterly stunning art style had me ready to don the Oboro Clan shōzoku as Joe Musashi after a long hiatus. The one thing that could deflate my eagerness to jump into Shinobi: Art of Vengeance would be if it didn't play well. However, we don't have to worry about that, as after spending 30 minutes with a controller in my hand, I'm pleased to report that Shinobi: Art of Vengeance plays as well as it looks. The story of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance doesn't try to reinvent the wheel: an evil corporation led by an oppressive villain known as Lord Ruse has seized control of the planet, and it's up to Joe Musashi to put a stop to it. My quest starts in Oboro Village, the home to Joe and his clan, and the first stage in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. The peace of this serene ninja village doesn't last long after Joe says goodbye to his wife, as the ENE Corporation forces attack. Platforming and pulling off combos is a breeze, thanks to fluid controls and an appropriately weighted protagonist. Making my way through this first stage felt terrific, and even though most of the encounters were little more than thinly veiled tutorials for Joe's impressively large suite of moves, I relished in each slash of the sword. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance feels endlessly rewarding for creativity. Though the first combo I learned was punctuating a series of light attacks with a couple of heavy attacks, experimenting gives me more options to play with. This rewarding combo system only improves as Joe's move set grows. <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/07/11a2017f/bamboo_forest_dive_kick.jpg" alt="Shinobi: Art of Vengeance" title="Shinobi: Art of Vengeance" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default"> To start, Joe only had his sword and kunai (which are initially extremely limited until you upgrade how many you can carry).  However, as I progressed through the stage, I began unlocking new moves. Though you can use collected currency throughout your journey to upgrade your character with new moves, kunai upgrades, and a bigger health bar, the most effective moves in my hands-on time with Shinobi: Art of Vengeance were the ones I uncovered by progressing the main story.Through his Ninja and Ninjutsu stances, Joe can use a variety of powerful moves once they're unlocked. Holding a shoulder button lets me put Joe into a different stance, granting him access to different signature moves I unlocked during my gameplay. Shinobi Execution allows you to strike at staggered enemies, killing them and granting additional rewards after defeat. Later, I unlock Fire Ninpo, which blasts a fireball at a nearby enemy. There's also the Water Ninpo ability, which isn't an attack as much as a defensive ability that surrounds Joe with water and lets him parry incoming attacks. Finally, there's Karyu, which is from the Ninjutsu Stance. This move engulfs all enemies on screen, dealing massive amounts of damage. If these stance-based moves seem powerful, it's because they are. Thankfully, you can't just spam them; each one operates on a type of gauge or can only be used under certain conditions. For example, Shinobi Execution can only be used when an enemy is staggered after taking a lot of certain kinds of damage. The Ninpo moves use a dedicated gauge that charges when you attack enemies. And finally, Karyu charges when you take damage or collect Rage Orbs from fallen enemies. During my time playing, the moves feel appropriately balanced and not too rarely available.  <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/07/6f022acd/lantern_festival_2_fire_ninpo.jpg" alt="Shinobi: Art of Vengeance" title="Shinobi: Art of Vengeance" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default"> The first stage was extremely straightforward with minimal exploration, but it gave me my first test: the Ghost Samurai miniboss. This hulking warrior uses dark attacks and employs uninterruptible heavy swings to deal significant damage if I'm not careful. After taking a couple of hits, I learn his attack patterns and when to strike to deal the most damage. I blast him with a Fire Ninpo, land several combos on him, and deal enough damage to stagger him and open him up to a Shinobi Execution to put a bow on the tutorial stage.As I move on to the second stage of my play session, it's evident how little of the surface of Oboro Village I've scratched. The Lantern Festival feels like a true action-platforming stage, full of exploration, more intricate platforming, environmental puzzles, and more difficult encounters. Starting out in a swamp with platforms that lower into poisonous waters and various creatures to slay, the stage eventually opens into a stunningly beautiful village with floating Japanese lanterns, extravagant decorations, and fireworks. Oh, and tons of enemies. Thankfully, Joe Musashi now has access to Amulets, bonuses granted based on their type. Passive Amulets are always active in the background, while Combo Amulets activate once your combo level reaches a specific number. Thankfully, the combo meter doesn't reset based on elapsed time from your last strike landed, but rather the time you go between taking damage; that means you don't have to sprint to find another enemy just because you cleared the screen before any more spawned.  <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/07/4eaf4098/lantern_festival_1.jpg" alt="Shinobi: Art of Vengeance" title="Shinobi: Art of Vengeance" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default"> I also now have access to Ningi abilities, which are primarily for mobility and traversal. The two Ningi abilities I used were the Ninja Claws, which let Joe climb on special walls, and the Cannon Punch, allowing Joe to punch through certain walls and break enemy armor. These truly opened up the levels with a ton of new paths, and it made me want to revisit the previous stage, which you can do through the checkpoint statues, to see if there were any new areas I couldn't previously get to. I'm excited to see the rest of the moves you can unlock, as there are 17 combat moves, 8 Ninpo, 7 Ningi, and 4 Ninjutsu slots on the upgrade page.Working through the Lantern Festival stage revealed the challenges of the platforming and combat encounters; shielded enemies required me to carefully time my dodges to get around back, while archers proved to be the bane of my existence as I sometimes didn't even know they were around until the marker appeared by me indicating they were about to rain an arrow down. These new enemy types required me to think differently about how I approached each group of baddies, and I can't wait to see what other challenges await in the final version. <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/07/3b40a543/lantern_festival_3.jpg" alt="Shinobi: Art of Vengeance" title="Shinobi: Art of Vengeance" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default"> Shinobi: Art of Vengeance was already one of the most promising games of 2025, but after getting my hands on this early build, my interest in the title has skyrocketed. If what I played is any indication, Lizardcube and Sega clearly understood what makes a great 2D action game and a great Shinobi game more than a decade after the last all-new entry. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance arrives on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC on August 29. To go behind the scenes and learn about the making of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, head <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/preview/2025/05/23/how-sega-and-lizardcube-pulled-shinobi-out-of-the-shadows" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="50058802-9567-4c97-8a9a-60931acd3b1c" data-entity-substitution="canonical">here</a>.

Jun 7

Epic Games Store Mystery Games for June 5 Leaked: Deathloop and Ogu and the Secret ForestThe next free games for the June 5 giveaway in Epic Games Store Mega Sale 2025 may have leaked early, thanks to trusted insider billbil-kun. According to the reliable leaker,… The post Epic Games Store Mystery Games for June 5 Leaked: Deathloop and Ogu and the Secret Forest appeared first on TwistedVoxel .

Jun 5

The 2025 Summer Showcase Schedule<img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/15/4c418622/sgf_2025.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="The 2025 Summer Showcase Schedule" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> With the sun out and the temperature rising, it must be summer. That means it's time to stay cool indoors and watch a litany of gaming showcases airing throughout the season. Spearheaded by Summer Game Fest, we've created a schedule listing every notable showcase occurring over the coming months, the date and times they air, and a summary of what they entail. Some are the usual suspects, while other organizations are hosting a showcase for the first time. Be sure to bookmark this page, as it will be updated regularly as new events are announced and airdates are confirmed. <h2 class="text-align-center">May 27</h2> May 27 <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/22/a8c50873/tbc2025art.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>TinyBuild Connect</h4>Start Time: 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ETHow to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@tinyBuildGAMES">YouTube</a>What It Is: Indie publisher tinyBuild's dedicated showcase is set to reveal new trailers, demos, and launch dates for several titles. Confirmed games to appear include Kingmakers, Hello Neighbor 3, SpeedRunners 2: King of Speed, and Of Ash and Steel. <h2 class="text-align-center">May 29</h2> May 29 <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/22/16a048f7/thinky-direct-showcase.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>Thinky Games Direct</h4>Start Time: 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. PTHow to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thinkygames">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/thinkygames">Twitch</a>What It Is: As its name implies, Thinky Games is a website that features and promotes puzzle games of all shapes and sizes. It's first-ever Direct will do the same, featuring exclusive reveals, updates, and trailers for new puzzle games on the horizon.  <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/22/347e2cba/indie_quest_art.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>Indie Quest </h4>Start Time: 4 p.m. PT/7 pm. ETHow to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamingShelf">YouTube</a>What It Is: If you're a JRPG fan, Indie Quest is the showcase for you. The debut event will host over 40 exclusive trailers for indie JRPGs (introduced by popular YouTube creators), including a tantalizing tease of a “must-see world premiere from a critically acclaimed studio." <h2 class="text-align-center">May 31</h2> May 31 <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/29/59ffca82/horrorgameshowcase.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>The Horror Game Awards Summer Showcase</h4>Start Time: 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ETHow to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@HorrorGameAwards">YouTube</a>What It Is: Founded in 2022, The Horror Game Awards celebrates the best games to scare your pants off, and its summer showcase provides a platform for upcoming scary titles, specifically from smaller/independent creators. <h2 class="text-align-center">June 3</h2> June 3 <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/02/910fc2dd/stateofunreal2025.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>State of Unreal </h4>Start Time: 6:30 a.m. PT/9:30 a.m. ETHow to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/AjikvaR0i34">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/unrealengine">Twitch</a> What It Is: Airing as part of its live Unreal Fest from Orlando, FL, Epic will share what's next for Unreal Engine 5 and the publisher overall. The biggest news is that The Witcher IV will be featured as part of a technology showcase. <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/22/e3faac6b/best_indie_games_showcase_2025_1.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>Best Indie Games Showcase </h4>Start Time: 8 a.m. PT/11 a.m. PTHow to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/ClemmyGames">YouTube</a>What It Is: The popular YouTube channel established itself as one of the most popular destinations for discovering indie games, and it gets to do so one more year in a larger showcase format. Games confirmed to appear include anticipated titles like Hotel Barcelona, Ruffy and the Riverside, Outbound, and Cattle Country.  <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/15/db6ae60b/mix_summer_game_showcase_25.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>The MIX Summer Game Showcase </h4>Start Time:  9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/MediaIndieExchange">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/mediaindieexchange">Twitch</a> What It Is: The Guerrilla Collective is partnering with The Media Indie Exchange (MIX) for an online showcase. Expect new game announcements, reveals, and fresh looks at gameplay for upcoming titles. <h2 class="text-align-center">June 4</h2> June 4 <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/29/add80c50/shacknewsindieshowcase25.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>Shacknews E4 Indie Showcase</h4>Start Time: 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ETHow to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@shacknews">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/Shacknews">Twitch</a>What It Is: The folks at Shacknews are holding their own indie games showcase. The event boasts exclusive trailers and reveals for over 20 titles.  <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/03/c8b15607/stateofplay2025.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>PlayStation State of Play</h4>Start Time: 2 p.m. ET/5 p.m. ETHow to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/PlayStation">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/playstation">Twitch</a> What It Is: PlayStation's presentation will feature over 40 minutes of announcements for upcoming PS5 titles. <h2 class="text-align-center">June6</h2> June 6 <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/08/b5a7fc97/accessabilityshowcaseart.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>Access-Ability Summer Showcase </h4>Start Time: 8 a.m. PT/11 a.m. ETHow to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@LauraKBuzz">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/LauraKBuzz">Twitch</a>What Is It: Hosted by Laura Kate Dale, the third-annual showcase spotlights new and upcoming games created by disabled game developers. The event also highlights accessibility game features and settings, celebrating the industry's growing initiative to ensure every person can engage with gaming.  <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/15/4c418622/sgf_2025.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>Summer Game Fest </h4>Start Time: 2 p.m. PT/5 p.m. ET How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thegameawards">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/thegameawards">Twitch</a> What It Is: The flagship showcase of the summer. Hosted by Geoff Keighley, expect a bevy of "World Premieres" and updates for current and upcoming titles, along with likely quite a few surprises.  <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/15/e43303fb/dayofthedevs2025.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>Day of the Devs </h4>Start Time: Immediately following Summer Game Fest How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@DayoftheDevs">YouTube</a> What It Is: Arguably the premier indie showcase of the season, presented by Psychonauts/Brütal Legend developer Double Fine Productions and collectibles company iam8bit. Previous editions have showcased a litany of exciting and unique titles from smaller/independent developers from various backgrounds.   <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/03/a50d863f/ballxpitbanner.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>Devolver Direct: Ball x Pit: The Kenny Sun Story</h4>Start Time: 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thegameawards">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/thegameawards">Twitch</a> What It Is: Instead of holding its usual unhinged showcase highlighting multiple games, Devolver Digital is spotlighting a single new title instead: Ball x Pit: The Kenny Sun Story. We have no idea if this game is real or an elaborate joke, but we're looking forward to finding out.   <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/02/c474155b/io_showcase_header.jpg" alt="IO Interactive IOI Showcase 007 First Light Hitman World of Assassination MindsEye" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>IOI Showcase</h4>Start Time: 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET How to Watch: YouTube What It Is: IO Interactive is holding its first digital showcase to celebrate the studio's 25-year history. Expect details on new content updates for Hitman World of Assassination, the first full reveal for its long-awaited James Bond game, 007 First Light, and one last look at MindsEye (developed by Build A Rocket Boy) before its June 10 launch. <h2 class="text-align-center">June 7</h2> June 7 <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/15/cfeff8d2/image.png" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>Wholesome Direct</h4>Start Time: 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/WholesomeGames">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/wholesome_games">Twitch</a> What It Is: Grab your favorite blanket and kick back with the most relaxed gaming showcase of the summer. A curated selection of roughly 60 titles, ranging from big companies to indie creators, will appear. The event will also provide updates on Wholesome Games Presents titles, Is This Seat Taken? and MakeRoom.   <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/22/c25f620b/womenledshowcase2025.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default">  <h4>Women-Led Games Showcase</h4>Start Time: 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Women-LedGames">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/womenledgames">Twitch</a> What It Is: This showcase features 39 games developed by women creators and teams. Expect updates on announced titles and world premieres.    <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/22/97857e90/latamshowcase2025.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default">  <h4>Latin American Games Showcase</h4>Start Time: 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@LAGShowcase/featured">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/lagshowcase">Twitch</a> What It Is: This event, partnered with Summer Game Fest, features world premieres and updates for over 50 titles developed in Latin America.   <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/03/2ecf6204/ignlive25.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>IGN Live - Day 1 Livestream</h4>Start Time: 12 p.m. PT/ 3 p.m. ET How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@IGN/streams">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/ign">Twitch</a> What It Is: IGN's two-day live event will feature new game announcements and other updates on upcoming titles as well as interviews with developers.   <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/23/cb0d348f/seashowcase2025.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>Southeast Asian Games Showcase</h4>Start Time: 12 p.m. PT/3 p.m. ET How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/16_LM0ZBSmc">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/seagamesshowcase">Twitch</a> What It Is: Another Summer Game Fest affiliate event that will showcase over 45 titles created in Southeast Asia. Expect exclusive reveals, new trailers, and updates on   <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/15/f815073d/fgs2025.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>Future Games Show Summer Showcase </h4>Start Time: 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@FutureGamesShow">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/futuregamesshow">Twitch</a> What It Is: Voice actors Laura Bailey and Matt Mercer host this year's show, highlighting over 40 AAA and indie games. Notable announcements include a new trailer for Supermassive Games’ Directive 8020, an interview with developer Hangar 13 for Mafia: The Old Country, and a new trailer for Crisol: Theater of Idols from Blumhouse Games.  <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/03/88546f9c/green_games_showcase_key_art.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>Green Games Showcase</h4>Start Time: 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thegameawards">YouTube</a> What It Is: Organized by PlanetPlay and hosted by games journalist Will Freeman, this new event showcases titles leading the charge in protecting and repairing the environment, whether through sustainability or raising awareness.  The event also aims to help raise money throughout June to plant over 50,000 trees for reforestation efforts.  <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/15/860e2c1b/frostygamesfest.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>Frosty Games Fest </h4>Start Time: 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET  How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@FrostyGamesFest">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/frostygamesfest">Twitch</a> What It Is: This first-of-its-kind showcase specifically spotlights games developed in Australia and New Zealand. As the organizers state, "It’s a hard time to make games right now, and the Frosty team believes the outstanding games from this part of the world deserve more attention. " <h2 class="text-align-center">June 8</h2> June 8 <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/04/09/4c8feb68/xbox-showcase-2025-graphic.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>Xbox Games Showcase/The Outer Worlds 2 Direct</h4>Start Time: 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/xbox/hub">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/Xbox">Twitch</a> What Is It: Xbox rolls out the <s>red</s> green carpet for its upcoming slate of games. Immediately following the show is a special broadcast dedicated to Obsidian Entertainment's The Outer Worlds 2.  <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/03/2ecf6204/ignlive25.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>IGN Live - Day 2 Livestream</h4>Start Time: 12 p.m. PT/ 3 p.m. ET How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@IGN/streams">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/ign">Twitch</a> What It Is: IGN's two-day live event will feature new game announcements, updates on upcoming titles, and interviews with developers.  <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/15/8879a30e/pc_gaming_show_25.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>PC Gaming Show</h4>Start Time: 12 p.m. PT/3 p.m. ET How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@pcgamer">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/pcgamer">Twitch</a> What It Is: PC Gamer's annual showcase will feature over 50 titles hitting PC, Mac, and Linux in 2025 and beyond. Developers/Publishers confirmed to appear include Ubisoft, Devolver Digital, Astra Logical, and Failbetter Games.   <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/03/e06a809b/deathstranding2gamepremiere.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default">  <h4>Death Stranding 2: On The Beach Game Premiere</h4>Start Time: 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOV2Rx-ncxM">YouTube</a> What It Is: Airing live from the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, Geoff Keighley hosts this special presentation of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Director Hideo Kojima, alongside "special guests," will participate in a panel discussion while fans will be treated to a new gameplay demonstration. <h2 class="text-align-center">June 9</h2>June 9  <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/03/9b4016e4/blackvoicesingaming2025.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>Black Voices In Gaming</h4>Start Time: 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET How to Watch: YouTube What It Is:  The annual showcase celebrating Black game creators (and their games) from around the world makes its return.  <h2 class="text-align-center">July 11</h2> July 11 <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/15/42a44738/uploadvrshowcase2025.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h4>The UploadVR Summer Showcase</h4>Start Time: 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqDMvCa1tGak6AmijajiKOw">YouTube</a> What Is It: UploadVR's big event promotes emerging virtual reality titles across various platforms, including exclusive announcements and first looks at upcoming titles.

Jun 3

Get A New Look At The Witcher IV In Unreal Engine Technical Showcase<img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/03/b6593a34/the_witcher_44.jpg" width="800" height="448" alt="The Witcher IV 4 Unreal Engine 5 Gameplay Technical Showcase" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> CD Projekt Red took the stage during today's <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2025/06/02/the-witcher-iv-is-getting-a-tech-showcase-during-epics-state-of-unreal-tomorrow">State of Unreal showcase</a> to unveil a new look at <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/product/the-witcher-iv">The Witcher IV</a>. In it, CDPR takes viewers through a technical showcase highlighting new Unreal Engine 5 Nanite technology, NPC animations, and, of course, Ciri, the protagonist monster slayer of this fourth installment in the series. The Witcher IV looks gorgeous, and CDPR says today's demo is running on a standard PlayStation 5 at 60 FPS. The demo begins with a cinematic showing a stagecoach in peril before we get a new look at Ciri. After the cinematic, CDPR took the stage to go hands-on-sticks for the technical showcase, which shows our first look at Ciri in representativ gameplay, her new horse companion Kelpie, and the gorgeous Kovir region the duo will explore. The demo takes viewers through some foliage for a look at new Nanite technology before bringing Ciri and Kelpi to the city of Valdrest. Check out the technical showcase for yourself below (thanks for the capture, GamesPrey): <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SwjLeGh_3qA" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="true"> </iframe>Jumping into some of the more technical details of this look at The Witcher IV, CDPR says Unreal Engine 5 features "Multi-Character Motion Matching" that keeps Ciri and Kelpie perfectly synchronized when mounting from any angle or speed, and claims "controlling Kelpie feels realistic and grounded" as a result. The new "Unreal Chaos Flesh Solver" allows realistic muscles to move and stretch under Kelpie's skin without compromising the game's performance. After Ciri and Kelpie ride into a wild forest of the Kovir region of this world, CDPR explains that "Nanite Foliage," a new feature of Unreal Engine 5, allows artists to model every single leaf and pine needle. Each one can be represented as an "adaptive, volumetric, fully 3D voxel representation" that turns them into cubes the size of a pixel. According to Unreal, this technology makes designing foliage that reacts realistically to the world and light around it easier. The final piece of technology highlighted during The Witcher IV showcase is an "entirely new Unreal animation framework," that CDPR says has allowed it to put over 300 animated NPCs "going about their business" without compromising a 60 FPS gameplay vision.  <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/06/03/7758a992/295032d9ca06e746d883ff7ea174b7be_q90_900x900.jpeg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> Valdrest The entire technical showcase looks beautiful and is quite ambitious. Of course, The Witcher IV is likely years away, and this showcase represents technology and not necessarily what the final game will look like. Still, it's an exciting look at the possibilities of CDPR's next open-world RPG. What did you think of the technical showcase? Let us know in the comments below!

Jun 3

Here Are The Things We Wish We Knew About Elden Ring Nightreign Before Playing<img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/27/8b9193e4/er9.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="Elden Ring Nightreign Game Informer Review 8 10 " typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/product/elden-ring-nightreign">Elden Ring Nightreign</a> is almost here! It launches tomorrow, with new From Software-designed bosses and challenges to take on in The Lands Between. Though it retains the From Software action at its core, it’s a roguelite experience, meaning it plays unlike anything the studio has made before. As such, this game has lots of “new” to pick up on. Fortunately for you, my colleague Alex Van Aken and I (read my<a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/review/elden-ring-nightreign/encapsulating-efficiency" target="_blank"> 8 out of 10 review here</a>) have put more than 60 hours into the game, and we’ve rounded up the best beginner tips and tricks for anyone jumping into Elden Ring Nightreign. <h2>Elden Ring Nightreign: Beginner Tips and Tricks</h2> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/27/66f8c3c7/Elden%20Ring%20Key%20Art.jpeg" alt="Elden Ring Nightreign Game Informer Review 8 10 " typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default"> <ul><li>All armament attributes and buffs affect your character, EVEN WHEN UNEQUIPPED<ul><li>Notice those caps? We can't emphasize this point enough. Every weapon you pick up features unique buffs and effects, ranging from things like increased ranged or holy damage to increased attack under specific circumstances. For the most part, these effects will be applied to your character as long as the armament is in one of your item slots.</li><li>The exception to this rule is any armament with a red hand symbol attached to an effect in its description. If you see this red hand, it means you must have it equipped and in use to receive the effect. You'll know it's working because you'll see a white hand symbol instead of the red hand when it's utilized.</li></ul></li><li>Get to Level 2 quickly – it makes a massive difference.<ul><li>When you land, you will pretty much always drop into Limveld by a small camp that's not marked on the map. Defeat all of the enemies here and head to the nearest Site of Grace to level up. Reaching Level 2 requires very few Runes, and the difference between Level 1 and Level 2 is massive – it's the difference you'll need to take on the points of interest actually marked on your map.</li></ul></li><li>If you can level up, a flashing light-blue arrow will appear next to the level indicator in the top left corner of your UI.<ul><li>It's also a great idea to memorize how many Runes are needed to go from Level X to Level Y so you can do the mental calculations on the fly.</li></ul></li><li>Use spectral trees to fly around the map quickly.<ul><li>On your map, you will see blue spectral trees with wind-like streams flowing out of them. The wind stream indicates the direction this tree will take you, and interacting with the tree in-world will cause a spectral eagle to pick you up and, if you don't touch anything, drop you off at the end of the wind stream path on the map. You can use the on-screen button prompts to either descend quickly with the eagle or have it drop you altogether.</li></ul></li></ul> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/27/e5a6dc8c/er1.jpg" alt="Elden Ring Nightreign Game Informer Review 8 10 " typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default"> <ul><li>When using the spectral tree eagles, don't touch your left stick.<ul><li>Doing so will throw the eagle off its flight path, leading to a quick end for your flight.  Don't press anything to travel the full distance.</li></ul></li><li>Another great way to traverse the map quickly is via Slipstream Jumps.<ul><li>On your map, these jumps look like blue flames, and when you reach them in-world, that's what they look like too. Hop into them and press the jump button to launch into the air. You can direct where you land using the analog sticks – these jumps are useful for climbing up cliffs quickly, reaching new areas, or pulling off u-turns mid-air to get somewhere else. You can also use them to cover distance quickly, which is especially useful for escaping the storm.</li></ul></li><li>Visit churches to increase your flask charge count.<ul><li>On your map, you will see orange-gold churches. Visit these to increase your flash count by one. After visiting a church, its symbol on your map will turn grey, indicating that you've already obtained the flask charge increase there.</li></ul></li><li>When you reach a church, your character will also be fully healed when accepting the additional flask.<ul><li>This is a great thing to keep in mind if you have to head into the storm to reach a church, as your health will be restored, giving you more of a fighting chance against the storm's damage.</li></ul></li><li>Use your Evergaol Keys on Day One.<ul><li>Using an Evergaol Key to open an Evergaol on the map will spawn a random boss to fight. If you do this on Day One, the boss will only have half of its health, which you'll notice when you see half of its health bar greyed out. If you open an Evergaol on Day Two, the boss will have two-thirds of its health, making it a tougher fight.</li></ul></li><li>Most points of interest have multiple entry points.<ul><li>Utilize these different entrances to take down points of interest quicker, like the basements of castles and forts.</li></ul></li></ul> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/27/404d57da/er5.jpg" alt="Elden Ring Nightreign Game Informer Review 8 10 " typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default"> <ul><li>If you see the merchant that looks like the Equillibrious Beast (colloquially known as Libra), speak to it.<ul><li>It offers bargains, such as giving you a "powerful weapon" at the cost of two levels (trust me: it isn't worth it because I received a grey weapon from this once and it was devastating) or boosting dexertity at the cost of limited FP (an excellent choice for the Ironeye, who has a Dexerity affinity and little use for FP).</li></ul></li><li>Ninety-nine percent of the time, it's worth it to complete the Shifting Earth events on the map.<ul><li>These will unlock as you beat more Nightlord bosses, and you won't have one on the map until you beat the first Nightlord boss. The first one you'll unlock is the volcano event, and it's one of the best to complete. Heading down into the volcanic area leads to a fight against a Magma Wyrm. Defeating this boss gives you an upgrade that takes any weapon of any rarity to Legendary (gold) status. The other events are great too, like the Scarlet Rot Forest, which features a blessing that yields an immunity to Scarlet Rot, increased HP, and activates a health mechanic similar to Bloodborne's Rally mechanic.</li></ul></li><li>Complete the Remembrances.<ul><li>These will unlock the longer you play each Nightfarer, and they are specialized quests for each character. Only one person in a trio can have one active. The earlier quests require you to beat a special boss on the map, but later Rememberances require beating the final boss, which is much tougher. Either way, completing Rememberances gives you excellent character-specific Relics to equip.</li></ul></li><li>Always seek out points of interest marked with the elemental damage type that's effective against the Expedition's Nightlord.<ul><li>When selecting an expedition, you'll see what elemental damage type the Nightlord boss is weak to, noted by a symbol of the element next to "effective." You can also read the Nightlord's description for another hint about the effectiveness of this elemental damage.</li></ul></li></ul> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/27/37e1c8a8/er6.jpg" alt="Elden Ring Nightreign Game Informer Review 8 10 " typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default"> <ul><li>If you see a red spectre on their knees in Limveld with the item marker on it, interact with it to receive a bunch of loot.<ul><li>These are the spectres of other players who have died, and you can see which character they were playing as, and you’ll notice their loot is themed around that as well.</li><li>If you find an Ironeye spectre, for example, you’ll see that their weapons are marked with “The Ironeye’s Grief” or “The Ironeye’s Revenge.” If you’re playing Ironeye, you should pick these up as they directly increase Ironeye’s scaled affinities like Dexerity.</li></ul></li><li>Check back in with the Jar Merchant in the Roundtable Hold periodically.<ul><li>His shop updates throughout your journey to include additional Relics, such as character-specific ones, and more.</li></ul></li><li>After beating two Nightlord bosses (or in other words, successfully completing two Expeditions), head to the new mirror icon on the Roundtable Hold map.<ul><li>Here, you can purchase additional outfits for your Nightfarers using Merk, the same currency used to purchase things from the Jar Merchant.</li></ul></li><li>Upgrade grey rarity weapons to blue using Smithing Stones.<ul><li>You can find these basic Smithing Stones out in the world or by purchasing them from merchants scattered about the map for 6500 Runes. The upgrade bench is always by the merchant.</li></ul></li><li>Upgrade blue rarity weapons to purple using upgraded Smithing Stones.<ul><li>To find these special Smithing Stones, head into the mines on your map and sprint through until you find the Golem miniboss. Defeat it to receive the type of Smithing Stone needed to upgrade your blue rarity weapons to purple rarity.</li></ul></li><li>You can quickly mark items and places on the ground by holding Triangle/Y and pressing R3/RS.<ul><li>The corresponding symbol and color will indicate who on your team made the mark.</li></ul></li><li>If you run into the Flame Chariot world bosses, you can dispatch them extremely fast by double jumping onto their head and pressing R1/RB.<ul><li>When you double jump onto the top of their heads or nearby, pressing R1/RB should activate a critical hit (the same move that allows you to stab enemies in the back). This critical hit instantly kills them, which is faster than the critical hit achievable by stabbing the chariot drivers in the back. </li></ul></li></ul>And that's all of our beginner tips and tricks for you before heading into <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/product/elden-ring-nightreign">Elden Ring Nightrein</a>. For more, read <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/review/elden-ring-nightreign/encapsulating-efficiency">Game Informer's Elden Ring Nightreign review</a>, and then <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2025/05/29/elden-ring-nightreigns-launch-trailer-summons-the-power-of-evanescence">check out this Elden Ring Nightreign launch trailer</a> that summons the power of Evanescence. If you have any tips or tricks not listed here, drop them in the comments below for your fellow Nightfarers heading into The Lands Between!

May 29

How Sega And Lizardcube Pulled Shinobi Out Of The Shadows<img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/22/7e3785ed/shinobi%20header.jpg" width="800" height="523" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC Publisher: Sega Developer: Lizardcube, Sega Release: <time datetime="2025-08-29T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">August 29, 2025</time> Rating: Teen In 1987, Sega sought to capitalize upon the mainstream popularity of ninjas with an arcade title called Shinobi. The title was a big hit for Sega as it attempted to recapture success in the arcade market, and the company leveraged the acclaim to help it make headway in the console gaming market as it converted the game to the Sega Master System, PC, and even Sega's future rival platform, the Nintendo Entertainment System. The result was a multiplatform hit that established its protagonist, Joe Musashi, as one of Sega's early heroes and spawned several sequels in arcades and across Genesis, Game Gear, Saturn, PlayStation 2, and 3DS.However, following the 3DS release of Shinobi 3D in 2011, the franchise came to a screeching halt. What was once considered one of Sega's flagship franchises went dormant for over a decade, and memories of Joe Musashi's adventures settled securely into the realm of nostalgia. Though Sega released an enhanced version of the original game in 2020 on Switch as part of the retro series Sega Ages, it felt increasingly like 2011 was the final time fans would step into the tabi of the Oboro Clan.  <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/22/0417128e/shinobisa.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> The Sega Ages version of Shinobi (2020) In that time, other franchises fell away one by one. Longtime Sega mainstays like Super Monkey Ball and Virtua Fighter joined already dormant series like Golden Axe, Jet Set Radio, and Crazy Taxi, as increasing emphasis was put on franchises like Sonic the Hedgehog and, in the coming years, Yakuza (Like a Dragon). "When people hear 'Sega' nowadays, they usually have the impression of Sonic or Like a Dragon, which we are very grateful for," director of Sega's content production department Kagasei Shimomura says. "These are IPs that we are very proud of, of course, but we do think that if you had asked people maybe 20 years ago or 30 years ago, there would have been fans thinking of many more IPs than Sonic or Like a Dragon. Those fans' excitement is very important." Power Surge <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/16/7c75af89/archive_gameplay_bamboo-forest.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> Revenge of Shinobi (1989) <h2>Power Surge</h2>Shimomura as part of a larger Sega teams examined the back catalog, realizing the sheer breadth of IPs under Sega's umbrella over its more than 60 years in existence. They decided it would be to the company's advantage and would appeal to a broader fan base to revive various inactive franchises. The aforementioned Sega Ages collection kept several classic series alive through enhanced remasters, but Shimomura, who helped spearhead Sega Ages, didn't think that was enough. "We didn't just want to go and make remasters or remakes of all the titles that are already around," he says. "We want people to enjoy and be satisfied by what we put out there, and find ways to create new Sega fans."After deciding to rebuild these seemingly lost franchises, Shinobi emerged as an early favorite for the fan base and the team. Shimomura loves the series as a player but also noticed symmetry between this new Sega initiative and Sega Ages, as Shinobi was the first game to enter development in the Nintendo Switch Sega Ages program. Though it was not the first to release in that collection, Shimomura appreciated the poetic nature of having Shinobi be the first series to revive under this <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/the-game-awards-2023/2023/12/07/sega-is-returning-to-some-of-its-best-games">new initiative</a> of bringing back legacy IPs. <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0VHYLJR9pNg" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="true"> </iframe>Sega's plans to develop new games in previously inactive franchises were revealed during The Game Awards 2023. The teaser trailer announced new projects for Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, Crazy Taxi, and Shinobi. In addition, though not officially a part of this initiative, Sega released the <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/review/super-monkey-ball-banana-rumble/a-ripe-return" target="_blank">first all-new entry in the Super Monkey Ball</a> series in over a decade last year, and a new Virtua Fighter game is in development.Shimomura began thinking about how to approach these classic franchises, with special attention paid to Shinobi. He feels he can trace the lineage of all Sega action titles back to the original Shinobi game, making it a fitting place to start with the revival process for these IPs.Retro Reconnection <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/22/fbfa582b/sor4.jpg" alt="Streets of Rage 4" title="Streets of Rage 4" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default"> Streets of Rage 4 (2020) <h2>Retro Reconnection</h2>Once Shinobi was settled as the appropriate title to kickstart this new strategy, Shimomura and the rest of Sega began looking for a development team that would best possess the capabilities to deliver a product that pays homage to the past while effectively bringing the series into the modern-day gaming landscape. Sega looked no further than a small indie studio that had recently accomplished that feat with two of its other long-dormant Sega franchises.Lizardcube, a Parisian game studio known for its gorgeous 2D art styles and tight gameplay, released Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap in 2017 and Streets of Rage 4 in 2020. Both titles received critical acclaim, earning scores in the 80s on the reviews aggregate site Metacritic. However, while both are new entries in Sega-owned franchises, Sega was not directly involved with developing or publishing those titles. Instead, Sega licensed its IPs to Lizardcube.  <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/22/1be0d4c6/wonderboy.jpg" alt="Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap" title="Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default"> Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap (2017) "After the success of Streets of Rage 4, Sega came to us, basically asking how we’re doing and if we had any other ideas about reviving," Lizardcube CEO and creative director Ben Fiquet says. "As big Sega fans, my blood started to boil once again."Fiquet and his team at Lizardcube pitched Sega on a Shinobi game, which proved serendipitous, considering Shimomura's preference for that franchise to kick off the legacy IP initiative. Lizardcube's pitch impressed Sega in striking a balance between old and new, simultaneously delivering a nostalgic and novel experience, a common challenge for any developer remaking, remastering, or creating a new entry in a classic series. <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/16/26ce91b5/shinobi_art_of_vengeance_screenshot_-_bamboo_forest.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (2025) "Getting the tone right in terms of art, in terms of vibe, in terms of different setup, but the gameplay, sometimes people don’t remember the gameplay exactly; they just remember playing a ninja and being a fast action game for the time," Fiquet says. "So, they want a fast action game, but it’s not the same thing as in the ‘90s on the Genesis. A fast action-platformer game has a lot of competition now. It needs to appeal to modern gamers, which, in my opinion, is fair because nostalgia can only get us so far, and we want the new people to care, and some people are young and they don’t know about the license."After Fiquet's team at Lizardcube submitted a pitch to Sega, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance was born. "Lizardcube is a studio that has extreme attention to detail and quality," Shimomura says. "When they were working on Streets of Rage 4, this was also something that we could tell. Back then, when Streets of Rage 4 came out, it wasn't that major to have revivals of older IPs on the market at that point, but we realized by the way people responded that working with a studio like Lizardcube that really has love and passion for Sega IPs is definitely something that users also appreciated."Or-Oboros <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/22/f4c13891/primary_shinobi_keyart_16x9.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> <h2>Or-Oboros</h2>Both sides agreed that a 2D action title would be the most effective and appropriate way to bring Shinobi back. However, that gameplay style still required iteration. Using Shinobi 1, 2, and 3 as the primary inspirations, Lizardcube began experimenting with ways to create a more engaging experience for the player. "We started the game as a direct follow-up of the gameplay for the original games, but we soon realized, even at the prototype phase, that it was kind of missing something," Fiquet says. "We soon realized that if you wanted to have the player care about what they will be doing the most, which is fighting, the fighting will need to be more interesting. That’s why you have a lot of moves now, and it’s a very interesting mix because it’s more like a beat-‘em-up in a platforming environment. You have a combo system, you have different moves at your disposal, powers, ultras, and different stuff, so that when the player is doing what they’re doing the most, they are entertained."Shimomura appreciated Lizardcube's trademark striking art style and its approach to older IPs with respect but without fear of renovating where needed. "The action-platformer genre is really part of the Shinobi DNA; we call it the lore," he says. "We didn't want to make a remake or remaster, but we wanted to make sure that we stay true to the lore and also innovate alongside. We identify the lore to be the DNA of an IP, which is not just a story or a certain setting, but really the essence of the IP itself, which we do believe is, in part, the action-platformer genre." <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/16/90f69c47/shinobi_art_of_vengeance_screenshot_-_lantern_festival.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt class="image-style-body-default"> This time around, Sega wanted to be more involved as a development and publishing partner rather than simply licensing the Shinobi IP like it did for Wonder Boy and Streets of Rage. "As you can imagine, it’s like a dream come true; if you’re a Sega fan and you were a kid in the ‘90s, working with Sega, it’s kind of meeting your heroes in a way," Fiquet says. "Sega has a better knowledge of games in general, and their own games as well. The back and forth has been more constant from the beginning because our producer, whom I really like, came from game development; they are not just marketing or a producer just trying to sell you something because this is an old IP. They really know what they’re talking about."The producer Fiquet refers to is Toru Ohara, who started as a game designer at Sega more than 30 years ago and serves as chief producer on Shinobi: Art of Vengeance from Sega's side. As Fiquet indicated, Sega is taking a more hands-on approach than simply filling traditional publisher duties. For instance, the art style in Lizardcube's first pitch project was initially what Fiquet described as "a little soft." Ohara and his team encouraged Lizardcube to become more expressive and use more brush strokes, resulting in the striking art style we now see in Shinboi: Art of Vengeance. "When they shared their ideas with us, we felt that this European art style in combination with a Japanese feel is something very special and unique," Ohara says. "We tried to add to their very beautiful art style through our feedback [to create] a little bit more of a Japanese feel to make it very distinctive." <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/22/c6b69c6d/lantern_festival.jpg" alt="Shinobi: Art of Vengeance" title="Shinobi: Art of Vengeance" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default"> Ohara's team consulted with Lizardcube on elements like brushstroke types, building designs, and other components to add more Japanese flavor to the visual aesthetics of Art of Vengeance. This collaboration's result is vibrant and beautiful, even within a crowded 2D action-platforming genre. As Fiquet describes it, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance possesses a style that is often reserved for animation or comics rather than video games. This gorgeous art style is the most realized continuation of the path '90s Genesis games like Aladdin, Earthworm Jim, Cool Spot, and The Lion King sent Fiquet down three decades ago.But it wasn't just feedback and suggestions; a team led by Ohara actively joined Lizardcube for development. This wasn't solely to deliver the best product possible but also to ensure everything remains wholly true to the Shinobi franchise. From the characters, world, themes, and, of course, the main protagonist Joe Musashi, Ohara, Shimomura, and their teams at Sega worked closely with Lizardcube to emphasize authenticity.Though Sega was precious about remaining true to the series, it encouraged evolution and experimentation. "We were very careful not to destroy the atmosphere that is very unique to Shinobi," Ohara says. "We felt that [the 2D action-platformer genre] needed to be evolved and modernized in order to make sure that, nowadays, players can enjoy the game and that the play-feel is correct, and that you have a game that is up to modern standards quality-wise. We were very particular not to keep everything as it was just for the sake of keeping it as it was."Striking in the Open <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/22/d1872c9c/fire_ninjutsu.jpg" alt="Shinobi: Art of Vengeance" title="Shinobi: Art of Vengeance" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default"> <h2>Striking in the Open</h2>Though Shinobi: Art of Vengeance was first teased during The Game Awards 2023, another 2D ninja-based action-platformer in a legacy '90s IP from a renowned indie developer was also announced at The Game Awards 2024. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is set to arrive later this year from The Game Kitchen, the studio behind the <a href="https://gameinformer.com/review/blasphemous-2/absolution">Blasphemous</a> franchise."I think, in a good way, there's a lot going on in the action game market lately," Ohara says. "We think there are a lot of great games coming out, not only indies, but new creators creating new types of 2D action games, and just so many new ideas." As we approach the release of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance later this summer, Ohara feels confident Shinobi: Art of Vengeance will set itself apart from other potentially similar titles. "I really think there is something very new and distinct to this title, mainly the play-feel and a large variety of choices that you, as the player, can make," he says. "The game starts out as a normal action game, but it does feel much more like a fighting game in the end, where you have all these different combos that you could choose from because you can learn to do more and more and be able to do more and more the further you go." <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2025/05/22/676ab88c/ninjutsu.jpg" alt="Shinobi: Art of Vengeance" title="Shinobi: Art of Vengeance" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default"> Sega isn't viewing this as a one-off revival. If successful, the Shinobi franchise could experience a sustained revival that sees it retake a place of prominence among Sega IPs. "Most important for us is to create games, of course," Shimomura says. "That being said, we do feel strongly about growing IPs and nurturing our IPs. So, the game release comes first, but we have also put out a release before about certain video content, but there are so many things that could happen in the future. Nothing is set in stone, of course, but there could be maybe comics or goods [...] We do think that IPs are supposed to evolve and expand, and we really do feel very strongly about our Shinobi IP and want to take care of it and nurture it. Maybe there might be a Vengeance 2 somewhere along the road. This is obviously nothing that's planned right now, but it really depends on how we can nurture the IP in the future and how the IP is going to grow, but we definitely do want to grow it."But Shinobi: Art of Vengeance isn't the only legacy IP returning in the near future. Franchises like Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, and Streets of Rage were also announced in that 2023 teaser video. "We can't talk in detail about anything, but that being said, we are considering several projects and are working on several projects," Shimomura says. "Not only games, but also other things that have been [announced] already. We're really looking forward to growing several of our IPs and making sure that we have several fun things coming up in the future."<iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ge__8Dan6bU" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="true"> </iframe>Shinbobi: Art of Vengeance arrives on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and PC on August 29.

May 23

Magical Ashwood Valley has received a release date!RedDeer.Games announced that Ashwood Valley will launch on Nintendo Switch on June 5th. In Ashwood Valley, you’ll join siblings, Draco and Luna, on a magical adventure. One day, they accidentally open a mysterious portal that takes them to an unfamiliar place far, far away from the world they know. And if that alone wasn’t enough, one of them turns into a cat along the way! Now, it’s up to you to venture through this strange place and meet its inhabitants in order to gather information on long-buried secrets the place holds, and find a spell to break the curse. During your journey, you might even learn about a local legend or two. While you explore, you’ll also encounter peculiar creatures and animals that will make you take a second look. But in the end, the pondering question is whether the forest will let you undo the curse.

May 23

Preview: Reka Already Feels Like an Immersive Witch Game I don't know who I am. I don't know what happened to my family. I'm alone, on a road to a small town, and while nobody cares enough to offer me food or a place to stay, they show enough concern to warn me away from the witch living in the woods. Yet the moment they do, I know that is exactly where I am meant to be. This is Emberstorm Entertainment's Reka , a game about training under a witch, decorating a chicken-legged, moving house, and using my herbal and potentially magical skills to improve my life throughout this simulation. I take my time on my journey to the witch's house. She's not going anywhere. I'm not running away. But I do want to know what is around us, and what I can expect. I help a merchant with a fae entity of sorts trapped in a lantern repair a wagon. I find a baby goat before it falls to it's death in a well. People in this dwindling village spread many rumors about the woman I'll soon meet. She's a demonic presence. She's an eccentric old lady. She once had a companion, but who knows where they went. She eats children. She's an affront to The High Lord. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY2gsgGRKAQ&ab_channel=emberstormentertainment Everyone has an opinion and, after hearing a sufficient amount, I know enough to suss out her exact location and use my compass to head to my new home. All this serves as a means of showing how much worldbuilding can be done in such a short amount of time. You need to try and connect to learn more. Only by hearing rumors can you get on the right path. But by taking that time, you also learn what their lives are like. What the village is like. What they need. How you can help to gain useful or decorative rewards. Upon first meeting Baba Jaga, she seems... ordinary. A plain, elderly woman. Someone a bit gruff. She's been waiting for me, just as I have for her, and she tasks me with gathering mushrooms and honey for our meal, then raspberries to barter with some Lutki in the woods who stole her talisman. Said charm will be mine if I retrieve it, allowing me immediate access to teleport back to her home at a whim. "So she is magic," I think as I head out for more practical gathering. Her crows follow and surround me. Whether they are there to report my deeds back to her or protect me, I can't tell. Mushrooms, honey, and raspberries are easy enough to spot. So are the mischievous woodland creatures that look like hopping wooden logs with faces. They're eager to trade me niceties like apples for my berries and give a gift if freed from errant logs, though I did need to chase down the thief who stole from my new master. I feel like that’s what I appreciate most about Reka , even in these early days. There’s a strong sense of magical realism. Yes, there really are beings like the Lutki and Leshy in the woods. Some remedies for people around you are as simple as putting in some effort to harvest, gather, or prepare food. However, there’s real magic here too. The fast traveling is a prime example, as is the chicken-footed, moving home itself. After a death in the family in the village, the home really does need to be cleansed, but that involves placing black salt instead of weaving some spell. But it’s amazing how often practicality and common sense wins. For example, when getting permission from Leshy for a trial that allows a larger home, none of the tasks involve magic or crafting. They involve actions that make the forest and its inhabitants happier. Images via Emberstorm Entertainment I also appreciate how this carries over to added content as well. For example, in May 2025 a Roots and Remedies update launched for Reka. This brings farming to the game. However, I feel like that garden is multifaceted. It looks nice, besides my quaint cottage. It adds something new to my routine. But it also enhances this witch game by making elixirs possible. Yes, we could poison people before, but now there are more opportunities, and it seems like a means of using both practical tonics to assist people and more magical potions such as one that lets us understand animals. Reka feels full of potential and like a witch game that explores how “magic” could be an actual spell or a more practical solution someone didn’t consider. Even though the 1.0 release isn’t set to arrive until later in 2025, it feels like there’s so much to enjoy already. I love diving into the world created here and taking in the ambiance. Reka is in early access on PC via Steam . The post Preview: Reka Already Feels Like an Immersive Witch Game appeared first on Siliconera .

May 22

Spirit of the North 2 – ReviewWhen the original Spirit of the North debuted back in 2020, it slipped under our review radar. That may have been a mistake, seeing as how that original game boasts an impressive 84% audience score on Steam even now. So, when we were given the chance to take a look at its sequel, we eagerly agreed. Could developer Infuse Studio repeat the success of the first game, or did they capture lightning in a bottle? And how well does Spirit of the North 2 stand on its own four paws? Story Fortunately, it’s not necessary to have played the first game to understand the story of Spirit of the North 2. You do need to go out of your way to figure out what is going on, as the narrative is delivered in bits and pieces, through collectible scrolls and books. There is no dialogue, as the game’s protagonists are all animals. This does mean that it’s easy to miss out on a lot of the story, unless you put effort into it. The gist of it is that a long time ago, the spirit animal guardians of various tribes were corrupted by Grimnir, the guardian of the Bear tribe. In the present day, our hero, a fox, accidentally sets Grimnir free again. It’s now up to the fox and his raven companion to undo this mistake. Graphics While the animal models that make up the cast of Spirit of the North 2 look decent enough, it’s the game’s different environments that are the true visual stars of the show. There is a huge variety when it comes to the open world, from snow-covered mountains to lush forests. Being an open world game, you can go anywhere you can see, and we found ourselves simply wanting to look around the biomes and admire the vistas. Now, the animal models feel admittedly a bit dated, with fur textures in particular looking rough, but this did lead to a surprisingly efficient performance overall, even when there were a lot of things happening on-screen at once. Sound The feeling of awe that springs forth from Spirit of the North 2’s environments is enhanced by a subtle, haunting soundtrack. For the most part, it’s deliberately subdued and understated, although this changes during action scenes. There is no voice acting, but the ambient sounds of nature and the calls of animals more than make up for this. Gameplay At its core, Spirit of the North 2’s gameplay is deceptively simple, especially for the open-world title it purports to be. This is a game that is mostly about exploring your surroundings, and in this regard, it is surprisingly similar to the recently reviewed The End of the Sun. Spirit of the North 2 then combines that exploration with platforming and puzzle-solving. There is no set path for the fox to follow, and very little in the way of outright guidance on where to go next. That doesn’t mean that you’ll end up feeling lost, as exploration feels intuitive and organic. You’ll gradually unlock new abilities for both the fox and the raven, and this allows you to deal with obstacles in different ways. The fox is even able to glide across gaps or can be lifted up into the sky, with the raven picking it up. This might not be something that would happen in the real world, but it’s a neat little feature, and we’re still looking at a game where a magical, glowing fox is trying to save the world. A good chunk of your time will be spent simply wandering the gorgeous environments, while looking for Spirit Wisps. These need to be collected to progress to the different areas that make up the vast world. There is quite a bit of variety when it comes to finding these Wisps. Some are easy enough to track down, but others require the solving of environmental puzzles, precision platforming, or the aid of your feathered friend. While there is no set order in which you unlock stuff with Wisps, each progressive unlock requires a greater number of Wisps. While finding these is the main driving force for the story, the world hides plenty of other secrets, from lore to currency, which can be spent on goodies from raccoon merchants. There is no actual combat in Spirit of the North 2. Instead, when you’re facing one of the opposing guardian spirits in a boss battle, the encounter plays out like a fast-paced puzzle instead. You’ll need to dodge attacks and traps, and figure out a way to deal with powerful foes like an angry stag or a pair of wolves, one of whom can breathe fire. The encounters are never cakewalks, although they don’t feel unfair either. Unfortunately, Spirit of the North 2 doesn’t quite nail those platforming aspects, mostly owing to awkward controls and inconsistency within its own mechanics. Sometimes you can jump at will, and at other times you can only do so where a blue marker indicates you can, for example. This would be fine if the game wasn’t so insistent on getting those jumps exactly right. Combined with the size of the map and the relatively low number of checkpoints, there were a few instances where this became frustrating, as there were parts of the game that we had to redo multiple times because of an unexpected death. Sometimes these deaths were unfair too, such as when a glitch caused us to get stuck in the terrain. Yes, as much as it pains us to say, our experience with Spirit of the North 2 wasn’t glitch-free. Apart from getting stuck in the environment, there were a few instances where assets didn’t load, and one instance where a guardian spirit didn’t do anything at all during an encounter. We understand that Spirit of the North 2, despite being a sequel, is still an indie project by a fairly small team, so there is some leeway here. Hopefully, a patch or two will be deployed in the near future. None of the glitches were egregious enough that we didn’t enjoy the game. We’d definitely understand it if people were on the fence because of these though. Conclusion As a whole, there is a lot more to like than to dislike about Spirit of the North 2, although the game doesn’t stick the landing in its current state. Most of our gripes with it are tied to glitches, although the platforming can be somewhat iffy too. Still, the world itself is a joy to explore, the vistas are beautiful, and the boss encounters can really put on the pressure. We wouldn’t outright recommend Spirit of the North 2 in its current state, but if a patch or two arrive soon, then this might just be a title you’d want to add to your library.

May 22

The ForestAs the lone survivor of a passenger jet crash, you find yourself in a mysterious forest battling to stay alive against a society of cannibalistic mutants. Build, explore, survive in this terrifying first person survival horror simulator.